Auction 101 Part 2 Chassidut and Kabbalah | Jerusalem Printings | Letters and Manuscripts | Objects
Responsa Zichron Yosef (Steinhardt) – Fürth, 1773 – Polemic Against Chassidut – Copy of the Rabbi of Würzburg, With His Glosses
Opening: $300
Sold for: $450
Including buyer's premium
Zichron Yosef, responsa and homilies by R. Yosef of Steinhardt, Rabbi of Fürth. Fürth: Itzek son of Leib Buchbinder, [1773]. First edition.
Copy of the "Rabbi of Würzburg", Rabbi Yitzchak Dov HaLevi Bamberger. One of the endpapers of the book (detached for rebinding, but enclosed) contains an ownership inscription (truncated and partially lacking): "To avoid 'placing a stumbling block before the blind' I sign the name of my father and master, chief rabbi of the Beit Din, R. Yitzchak Dov HaLevi – head of the Beit Din and yeshiva dean in Würzburg and the region".
On leaves of the book, several glosses, some lengthy, apparently handwritten by the Rabbi of Würzburg.
R. Yitzchak Dov (Seligman Baer) HaLevi Bamberger (1808-1879) was appointed Rabbi of Würzburg in 1840. An outstanding Torah leader of his times, many of his disciples became rabbis in Germany. He authored important halachic and Talmudic works (Yad HaLevi, Netiah Shel Simchah, Melechet Shamayim and more).
The author's preface contains sharp criticism of the Chassidic movement. Chassidim would often tear out these leaves; in the present copy these leaves are present.
[3], 24, [1], 25-46, 46-67, 67-119, [2] leaves. Leaves 93-94 misordered. 33.5 cm. Partially dark paper. Fair-good condition. Stains. Tears and some open tears, affecting text. Worming, affecting text. Inner margins of title page and several other leaves repaired with paper (bordering text). New binding. Enclosed with the book: Original endpapers, detached or cut off during rebinding. These leaves are in fair condition, with stains and tears.